System and method for analyzing carbon build up in an engine

ABSTRACT

An induction cleaning analyzing system includes a pressure sensor, an ignition event detector, and a control module. The pressure sensor measures airflow pressures of intake air and/or exhaust from cylinders in a common airflow pathway of a vehicle. The ignition event detector determines ignition events of the cylinders. The control module obtains pressure waveforms representative of the airflow pressures and divides the pressure waveforms into waveform segments. The control module associates different subsets of the waveform segments with different ones of the cylinders using the ignition events. The control module also identifies cyclic variations in the airflow pressures flowing in the common airflow pathway and caused by at least one of the cylinders by examining the waveform segments associated with the at least one of the cylinders.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/837,581, filed on 15 Mar. 2013, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/663,341, filed on 22 Jun. 2012, and whichalso claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/712,003,filed on 10 Oct. 2012, the entire disclosures of which are incorporatedby reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This inventive subject matter described herein generally relates tointernal combustion engines and the carbon compound build up that occurswithin such engines over time. More particularly, the inventive subjectmatter relates to automotive test equipment and methods of detectingcylinder combustion efficiencies, including lower efficiencies that maybe caused by carbon build up in the internal combustion engine.

BACKGROUND

The internal combustion engine has powered the world for over a century.This basic engine design puts the cylinder under a compression load,thus heating the air charge contained within cylinder. The internalcombustion engine can be of two different designs, compression ignitionor spark ignition. In the compression ignition engine, the fuel isdirectly injected into the combustion chamber where the heated aircharge due to the compression has enough thermal energy to ignite thefuel. In the spark ignition engine, the fuel is delivered into theintake manifold or directly injected into the combustion chamber, thecompression heats the air charge, but the thermal energy from thecompression is not enough to ignite the fuel. The spark that isgenerated from a transformer is used to ionize the spark plug electrodescreates plasma that has enough thermal energy to ignite the fuel.

Both of the above described engine designs are thermal engines that arepowered by fuel stocks that are hydrocarbon based. These hydrocarbonbased fuels contain hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms that are arranged inchains. When these high energy chains are put under enough load, thechains will break apart and, in the presence of oxygen, will recombinewith the oxygen forming a low energy molecule. When the high energychain is converted to a low energy molecule, energy in the form of heatis created. This thermal energy heats the working fluid (e.g.,nitrogen), which expands and pushes the piston down to produce torque onthe crankshaft. When these hydrocarbon chains are ignited and burned,carbon compounds are produced. For the most part, these carbon compoundsare pushed out of the exhaust under pressure to the atmosphere. Thosecarbon compounds that are not pushed out the exhaust go by the pistonrings becoming crankcase blow by or go into the intake manifold (alsoreferred to as the “air induction system” or “induction system”) whenthe intake valve opens. The carbon compounds that go into the crankcaseare pulled into the intake manifold through the Positive CrankcaseVentilation (“PCV”) system. Additionally, the PCV system allows some ofthe lubrication oil compounds to enter into the air induction system.

In either case, carbon compounds end up entering into the inductionsystem of the running engine. One molecule after another molecule, thecarbon compounds attach to the surfaces in the internal combustionengine, including the air induction system. Over time these carboncompounds build up on the surfaces of the engine. When the carbon layersbecome large enough to disrupt the air charge moving through the intaketrack into the cylinder, the combustion efficiency of the cylinders arelowered which, in turn, lowers the cylinder pressure. Since the fuelreleases thermal energy that heats the nitrogen within the cylinder,variations in the air/fuel charge changes the pressure within thecylinder. These lowered cylinder pressures or lower combustionefficiencies lower the torque at the crankshaft thus lowering theengine's performance.

Different engine configurations, fuel stocks, engine loads, enginerunning times, and engine running temperatures change the rate that thecarbon compounds build up within engines. This indicates that thesevariables change the time intervals that an engine will need betweeninduction cleaning. What is needed is apparatus for and a method inwhich the carbon compounds accumulation within an engine can beaccurately judged.

In U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,801,671 and 7,899,608 to Pederson, a method ofidentifying one or more misfires occurring in an internal combustionengine is disclosed. The apparatus and methods disclosed in the Pedersonet al. patents can be used to determine combustion efficiency. Suchequipment and methodology, however, is for a trained technician. Forinstance, it requires someone of relatively significant skill to findand connect a monitoring device to the ignition coil and interpretacquired data to determine the carbon compound build up within theengine.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the inventive subject matter relates to apparatus anda method of identifying cyclic cylinder pressure variations, whichcorrelate with combustion efficiencies, occurring in an internalcombustion engine. The method can include running an engine, placing atrigger antenna on the engine, measuring pressure pulses from an exhaustof the engine and/or an air induction system of the engine, generating awaveform from the measured pressure pulses, dividing the waveform intosegments based on signals from the trigger antenna (e.g., one waveformfor each cylinder of the engine, where each segment represents apressure pulse), associating each waveform segment with a cylinder count(e.g., the number of cylinders the engine being tested has), andcomparing a plurality of individual cylinder waveform segments producedfrom the same cylinder to each other to identify differences over aspecified time.

The method also can include providing an algorithm that identifiescyclic pressure variations, converting, with an algorithm, the cyclicpressure variations into a scale that indicates different degrees ofcyclic pressure variations (e.g., good, fair, bad, and very bad),indicating if the induction system needs to be cleaned by turning on analert indicator, identifying a total lack of combustion or a misfire andturning on a misfire alert indicator, identifying if the tail pipesensor (or air induction sensor) is properly positioned in the exhaust(or intake manifold) or not and, if the sensor is not properlypositioned in the exhaust (or air intake) stream activating an alertindicator and suspending the test, and identifying if the triggerantenna is on top of the engine or not and, if the antenna is not on topof the engine, activating an alert indicator and suspending the test.The method further includes identifying the engine that is being tested(e.g., by the use of a drop down menu or using the vehicleidentification number) to determine whether or not such engine needs thebase algorithm to be modified or not. Modifying the base algorithm witha multiplier can ensure accurate test results across various or allyears, makes, and models of engines.

In an embodiment, an induction cleaning analyzing system includes apressure sensor, an ignition event detector, and a control module. Thepressure sensor is configured to measure airflow pressures flowing in acommon airflow pathway of a vehicle into which at least one of exhaustsfrom plural cylinders in an engine flow or intake air is drawn by thecylinders. The ignition event detector is configured to determineignition events of the respective cylinders. The control module isconfigured to obtain pressure waveforms representative of the airflowpressures in the common airflow pathway as measured by the pressuresensor and to divide the pressure waveforms into waveform segments. Thecontrol module also is configured to associate different subsets of thewaveform segments with different ones of the cylinders using theignition events determined by the ignition event detector. The controlmodule also is configured to identify cyclic variations in the airflowpressures flowing in the common airflow pathway and caused by at leastone of the cylinders by examining the waveform segments associated withthe at least one of the cylinders.

In an embodiment, a method (e.g., for analyzing carbon build up in anengine) includes measuring airflow pressures flowing in a common airflowpathway of a vehicle into which at least one of exhausts from pluralcylinders in an engine flow or intake air is drawn by the cylindersusing a pressure sensor that is at least partially disposed in thecommon airflow pathway, determining when ignition events of therespective cylinders occur, dividing pressure waveforms representativeof the airflow pressures into waveform segments, associating differentsubsets of the waveform segments with different ones of the cylindersusing the ignition events determined by the ignition event detector, andidentifying cyclic variations in the airflow pressures flowing in thecommon airflow pathway and caused by at least one of the cylinders byexamining the waveform segments associated with the at least one of thecylinders.

In an embodiment, a system (e.g., for analyzing airflow throughcylinders of an engine) includes a pressure sensor, an ignition eventdetector, and a control module. The pressure sensor is configured tomeasure at least one of intake air pressures or exhaust pressures ofplural cylinders flowing through a common air passageway associated withan engine. The ignition event detector is configured to sense ignitionsignals representative of combustion cycles of the cylinders. Thecontrol module is configured to separate the at least one of intake airpressures or exhaust pressures into waveform segments and to associatedifferent subsets of the waveform segments with different ones of thecylinders. The control module is configured to identify variations inthe at least one of intake air pressures or exhaust pressures caused byat least one of the cylinders by identifying cyclic variations in thewaveform segments in the subset of the waveform segments that areassociated with the at least one of the cylinders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made briefly to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an engine having spark plug wiresand using a tail pipe venturi;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an engine also having spark plugwires in association with just a tail pipe sensor;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an engine having Coil On Plug(COP) ignition type in association with a tail pipe venturi;

FIG. 4 is another schematic illustration of an engine having Coil OnPlug (COP) ignition type in association with a tail pipe sensor;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an engine having compression typeignition system in association with a tail pipe venturi;

FIG. 6 is another schematic illustration of an engine with compressiontype ignition in association with a tail pipe sensor;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an engine having spark plug wires,wherein the pressure sensor is positioned in intake manifold instead ofthe exhaust;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an engine having Coil On Plug(COP) ignition type, and in association with an intake pressure sensor;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a flow chart for an operational sequence ofan embodiment of the inventive subject matter;

FIG. 10 is a screen shot of the cylinder number pick screen;

FIG. 11 is another screen shot, namely the vehicle identificationscreen;

FIG. 12 is a screen shot of a trigger antenna pickup signal from anengine which provides an ignition discharge signal for each cylinder;

FIG. 13 is a screen shot of a trigger antenna pickup signal from anengine which provides a fuel injector discharge signal for eachcylinder;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are a screen shot illustrating a cylinder count chart;

FIG. 15 illustrates an induction carbon build up scale;

FIG. 16 illustrates a threshold chart for use with algorithms disclosedherein;

FIG. 17 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder before cleaning inductionsystem, exhaust pressure waveform;

FIG. 18 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder before cleaning inductionsystem, cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 19 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder after cleaning induction system,exhaust pressure waveform;

FIG. 20 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder after cleaning induction system,cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 21 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder after cleaning and driven 500miles, exhaust pressure waveform;

FIG. 22 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder after cleaning and driven 500miles, cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 23 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder before cleaning inductionsystem, intake pressure waveform;

FIG. 24 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder before cleaning inductionsystem, cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 25 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder after cleaning induction system,intake pressure waveform;

FIG. 26 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 2000 Toyota RAV 4 2.0 L 4 cylinder after cleaning induction system,cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 27 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 6 cylinder 2001 Nissan Xterra with a 3.3 Liter engine is shownbefore cleaning the induction system, exhaust pressure waveform;

FIG. 28 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 6 cylinder 2001 Nissan Xterra with a 3.3 Liter engine is shownbefore cleaning the induction system, cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 29 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 6 cylinder 2001 Nissan Xterra with a 3.3 Liter engine is shownafter cleaning the induction system, exhaust pressure waveform;

FIG. 30 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron a 6 cylinder 2001 Nissan Xterra with a 3.3 Liter engine is shownafter cleaning the induction system, cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 31 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron an 8 cylinder 2007 ford f150 with a 4.6 Liter engine before cleaningthe induction system, exhaust pressure waveform;

FIG. 32 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron an 8 cylinder 2007 ford f150 with a 4.6 Liter engine before cleaningthe induction system, cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 33 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron an 8 cylinder 2007 ford f150 with a 4.6 Liter engine after cleaningthe induction system, exhaust pressure waveform;

FIG. 34 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron an 8 cylinder 2007 ford f150 with a 4.6 Liter engine after cleaningthe induction system, cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 35 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron an 8 cylinder 1990 Lincoln Town car with a 5.0 Liter engine beforecleaning the induction system with a misfire, exhaust pressure waveform;

FIG. 36 illustrates use of an embodiment of the inventive subject matteron an 8 cylinder 1990 Lincoln Town car with a 5.0 Liter engine beforecleaning the induction system with a misfire, cylinder count data chart;

FIG. 37 illustrates an example of ignition signals;

FIG. 38 illustrates one example of an input screen that may be presentedto an operator of the system shown in FIG. 37 via a display device;

FIG. 39 illustrates another example of an input screen that may bepresented to an operator of the system shown in FIG. 37 via a displaydevice;

FIG. 40 is a schematic example of pressure waveforms for an engine;

FIG. 41 is an example of a waveform segment that may be identified for acylinder;

FIG. 42 illustrates an example of a testing results scale that can bepresented to an operator of the system shown in FIG. 37; and

FIGS. 43A and 43B illustrate a flowchart of an example of a method foranalyzing carbon buildup in an engine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate the induction cleaning analyzer instrumentation 11of the inventive subject matter in combination with an internalcombustion engine 13. The instrumentation 11 also may be referred to asan induction cleaning analyzer system. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,engine 13 includes cylinders 14, an intake manifold 15, an exhaustmanifold 17, an ignition coil 19, and spark plug wires 21. Withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4, instead of ignition coil 19 and spark plugwires 21, engine 13 includes COPs 23. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6,instead of ignition coil 19 and spark plug wires or COPs 23, engine 13(in this case a compression ignition engine) has fuel injectors 25. InFIG. 7, engine 13 is the same as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.Similarly, in FIG. 8, engine is the same as in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Instrumentation 11 includes pressure sensor 31, antenna 33 and controlmodule 35. The antenna 33 may represent or be referred to as an ignitionevent detector. Module 35 includes A/D converter 37, microprocessor 39and computer screen 41. Preferably screen 41 is a touch screen. If not,a key pad (not shown) and a mouse (also not show) would have to beprovided. As is also apparent from FIGS. 1-6, pressure sensor 31 andantenna 33 are connected to A/D converter 37 via, respectively, cables43 and 45. In all 6 of these embodiments, pressure sensor 31 isconnected to exhaust manifold 17 via tube 47. In the case of FIGS. 2, 4and 6 tube 47 is inserted directly in the exhaust. In the case of FIGS.1, 3 and 5 a tail pipe venturi 49 is included. Venturi 49 is of the typedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,554 to Thompson, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference. For convenience of illustration,tube 47 and venturi 49 are shown inserted directly into manifold 17.However, in actual testing they will be inserted in the tail pipe (notshown) of engine 13's exhaust system.

The instrumentation illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is the same as abovenamely, pressure sensor 31, antenna 33 and control module 35. The onlydifference is that in these two embodiments pressure sensor 31 isinserted in an opening (not shown) in intake manifold 15.

In operation, air is moved through intake manifold 15 into the cylinders14 of engine 13. There, in the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2,the air/fuel charge is ignited by spark from coil 19. The air/fuelcharge is burned in each cylinder during the power stroke and exhaustedduring the exhaust stroke into exhaust manifold 17. However, asdiscussed in the Background, some of the carbon compounds producedduring the power stroke go by the piston rings becoming crankcase blowby or go into the intake manifold when the intake valve opens. Thepressure pulses produced by the exhaust gases in manifold 17 aremeasured by pressure sensor 31 which is connected to the manifold byhose 47, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. In the case of theembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, hose 47 is connected to atail pipe venturi 49.

Pressure sensor 31 measures the exhaust pressure pulses and sendsexhaust pressure voltage readings to A/D convertor 37 via cable 43. A/Dconvertor 37 converts the analog signals from pressure sensor 31 todigital signals and sends a pressure wave form to microprocessor 39. Inthe case of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6, this will be a tail pipepressure waveform. In the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 7-8,discussed below, this will be an induction pressure waveform.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, ignition coil 19 sends ignition signals(one for each cylinder) through spark plug wires 21. These signals arepicked up by antenna 33, which is simply placed on top of engine 13, andsent to A/D converter 37 where they are converted to digital signals andthen sent to microprocessor 39. In the case of a diesel engine, such asschematically illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, antenna 33 picks up theelectric fuel injector turn on pulse for each cylinder.

The above described ignition signals are used to divide the tail pipepressure waveform into segments. (As discussed with reference to theembodiment of FIGS. 7-8, where the pressure sensor is inserted in intakemanifold 15, the pressure waveform will be from the intake manifold.) InFIG. 12 is a shot of screen 41 showing the antenna signal from a sparkignition; in FIG. 13 the screen shot is of an antenna signal from adiesel. In both examples the antenna signal may be presented in onecolor (e.g., red), to which is added by a microprocessor generated mark,one for each cylinder of the engine being tested, in another color(e.g., green).

The cylinders contained within the test engine are selected at thebeginning of the induction cleaning analyzer test, as indicated by thetouch screen shown in FIG. 10. Alternately, the vehicle identificationnumber can also be used for the engine type and cylinder count fromanother drop down menu, or the vehicle identification number can bescanned with a bar code reader, or manually entered, all as shown inFIG. 11. With the number of cylinders known, with a routine included inthe microprocessor's trigger antenna algorithm will install divisions onthe pressure waveform that the antenna may not have picked up due to,for instance, inaccurate placement of the antenna, weak signal, or wheresome coils are shielded. This routine works by finding the peak voltagespicked during ignition events and makes sure they occur during expectedintervals according to the number of cylinders and typical idle RPM ofthe engine being tested. This assures evenly placed ignition event marksfor accurate exhaust (or intake in the case of the embodiments of FIGS.7 and 8) segment lengths, one for each cylinder of the engine beingtested.

After the exhaust segments of the waveform are accurately marked, one ofthe marks is selected as the point at which the microprocessor starts acount. As it is not important that cylinder #1 of the engine correspondto cylinder count #1, the waveform segments may or may not align to thefiring order of the engine. The count will start at count #1 (whichcould be any cylinder of the engine) and count up to the number ofcylinders in the engine being tested. The next count then begins again,and then the next count and so on, for a specified time (e.g., 5 secondsper data collection, repeated 6 times, for a total of 30 seconds). Ifany one of the 5 second blocks has moved high or low, the other 5 secondblocks would average the end result. After the data from the exhaustpressure segments (with each segment representing a cylinder) iscollected over the specified period of time, the algorithm then arrangesall of the same cylinder exhaust pressure segments data in columns sothey can be compared to each other as illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B.In other words, all or several of the cylinder pressure pulses with acount of #1 (or #2, or #3, or #4, etc.) are compared with each other.Stated another way, all of the cylinder exhaust pressure segmentsproduced from cylinder count #1 are only compared against other cylindercount #1 segments, all of the cylinder exhaust pressure segmentsproduced from cylinder count #2 are compared against other cylindercount #2 segments, and so on until the number of cylinders segmentscorresponding to the number of cylinders of the test engine being testedhas have been compared.

In the 4 stroke internal combustion engine, the cyclic variations aregenerated from the 4 strokes of the engine. The first stroke is theinduction stroke in which air is moved into the cylinder by creating alow pressure area in the cylinder as the piston moves away from thecylinder head. (In supercharged or turbocharged engines the air pressureis forced in the cylinder by a higher pressure.) The second stroke isthe compression stroke which heats the air and fuel contained within thecylinder as the piston moves toward the cylinder head. The third strokeis the power stroke which is initiated by ignition of the air/fuelcharge. During the burn of the air/fuel charge pressure is built up inthe combustion chamber, thus forcing the piston downward away from thecylinder head. The forth stroke is the exhaust stroke, which forces theburnt air/fuel mixture out of the cylinder into the atmosphere bycreating a high pressure area in the cylinder as the piston moves towardthe cylinder head. These four strokes represent one cycle of the engine.When the exhaust valve opens, the pressure from the combustion cycle isreleased into the exhaust. The exhaust pressure variations ordifferences indicate cyclic variations, or combustion efficiencyvariations.

All engines have some acceptable cyclic pressure variations due toproduction tolerances. However, as these variations increase over thelife of an engine, a power loss results that is not acceptable due to adecrease in crankshaft torque production that is less than themanufactures specifications for the engine type. These differences arecaused by the air charge moving down the intake and hitting carbon thathas built up within the engine. When the air charge hits these carbondeposits it becomes turbulent, which turbulence creates uneven cylinderfilling from cycle to cycle. This, in turn, changes the combustionpressure in a cylinder from cycle to cycle.

The trigger antenna algorithm divides the waveform into segments, whichsegments are then measured and compared with separate routines thatdetermine an averaged number, which number is then scaled. The programthen checks each cylinder pressure pulse produced from the same cylinderfor differences. If the same cylinder has tail pipe (or intake manifold)pressure differences that break a preprogrammed threshold, asillustrated in FIG. 16, the induction system has carbon compounds thathave built up beyond an acceptable level. These tail pipe pressuredifferences are then used by a routine (waveform length, directionchanges, min, max, % for bottom, hump % (discussed below)) that willindicate the carbon accumulation contained within the internalcombustion engine. A scale is also provided that uses this algorithm toindicate the amount of carbon contained in the internal combustionengine. If chemicals are used to clean the induction system orinjectors, the inventive subject matter can be used to check how wellthe chemicals worked to clean the internal combustion engine.

As indicated above, the algorithm takes the antenna trigger signal anddivides the exhaust pressure signal into segments indicated by theignition signal. The microprocessor then marks each of the segments withcylinder count numbers. Each segment then has a routine that analyzesthe segment for overall length (locus length), overall directionchanges, difference in minimum bottom percent, and 80/20 hump percent.The locus length of each cylinder count segment is measured. The locuslength can represent the actual length of a waveform, such as the lengthalong the path of the waveform. As an example shown in FIG. 41(described below), the locus length of a waveform can be the distancethat extends from the location 1210 to a peak 1224 of the waveform andfrom the peak 1224 to the location 1212. The locus length may bedetermined by counting the points (e.g., data points representative ofpressures at different times) that form the waveform. These points areextrapolated with a linear line to make up the waveform. If the pointsare counted in a set period of time, the waveform length (e.g., thelocus length (shown as 1208 in FIG. 41) can be known.

This overall segment length changes cycle to cycle when inductionturbulence is present. The direction changes within the overall segmentlength changes cycle to cycle when induction turbulence is present aswell. Once the locus length (LC) and directional changes (DC) arecalculated the locus length is divided by the directional changes LC/DC.This number LC/DC is then averaged for each of the cylinder counts. Thevariance based off of the LC/DC is also calculated for the cylinders.This variance of the LC/DC is then averaged for each of the cylindercounts. The algorithm then takes the Average LC/DC and multiplies it bythe Average Variance LC/DC. This number is then used to scale the carbonbuildup on carbon buildup scale FIG. 15 which is displayed on screen 41.The carbon buildup scale reads from 10 good (color=green), 8-6 fair(color=yellow), 6-4 bad (color=orange), 4-0 very bad (color=red). Thisscale could also be accomplished with visual lamps, or audible alerts.The cylinder count segments are checked for maximum (max) and minimum(min) pressure levels. These pressure levels are then averaged and thebottoms or the minimums are compared. If the average of these bottompressure readings have changes that breaks a % threshold, the inductionsystem has carbon build up. These bottom % thresholds are then scaled oncarbon build up scale FIG. 15. The cylinder count segments are alsochecked for maximum and minimum pressure levels. These pressure levelsare then scaled for 80% and 20% of the min max of the exhaust pressuresegments. Within the 80% to 20% falling pressure region, the firstrising and falling pressure or hump is measured. If the hump percentagebreaks a threshold the induction system has carbon build up. These hump% thresholds are then scaled on carbon build up scale FIG. 15. Of thesethree algorithms; DC/LC Avg*Var; Bump % Average; % From Bottom Average;the one algorithm that has the greatest number is scaled on carbon buildup scale FIG. 15. In the preferred embodiment of the induction analyzerthe algorithm for Bump % Average; % From Bottom Average are only used on3-4-5 cylinder engines. The chart in FIG. 16 is used to set thethresholds for the above algorithms.

Additionally, as indicated above, the intake manifold pressure can beused to determine the carbon compound build up with in the engine. Theinduction cleaning analyzer variation is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thetrigger antenna 33 is used to pickup ignition coil discharges from coil19; which will set divisions that will mark the intake pulse waveforminto segments that will be counted to a cylinder count number. Theintake manifold pressure is read with pressure sensor 31 which convertsintake manifold pressures measured in intake manifold 15 to anelectrical signal. This signal is sent to A/D converter 37 through cable43. A/D converter 37 sends data from trigger antenna and intake pressuredata to microprocessor 39. This intake manifold pressure waveform isthen divided by the ignition discharge algorithm making even segmentsthat represent cylinders. Once the cylinder number contained within theengine being tested is complete, the engine cylinder count starts andcounts the number of cylinders within the engine, then the next countbegins, and then the next count and so on, this count will continue fora specified time. Now that all of the cylinders are marked over a periodof time, the next step is to arrange all of the same cylinder intakepressure segments data in columns so they can be compared to each other.In other words, all of the cylinder pressure pulses with a count of #1,or #2, or #3, or #4 etc. are compared. This comparison is only done forthe exact same cylinder. So all of the cylinder intake pressure segmentsproduced from cylinder count #1 are compared against other cylindercount #1 segments, all of the cylinder intake pressure segments producedfrom cylinder count #2 are compared against other cylinder count #2segments, and so on until the number of cylinders that the test enginehas have been obtained. The program then checks each cylinder intakepressure pulse produced from the same cylinder for differences. Thesedifferences are caused by the air charge moving down the intake andhitting carbon that has built up within the engine. When the air chargehits these carbon deposits the air goes turbulent. The turbulent airwithin the air charge creates uneven cylinder filling cycle to cycle.The microprocessor uses an algorithm to calculate the carbon build upbased on the intake pressure changes. The algorithm that is used for theintake pressure waveform is DC/LC Maximum, DC/LC Minimum, DC/LC Max-Min,DC/LC Average, DC/LC Std Dev, DC/LC Variance, DC/LC Avg*Var, LC Average,these are the same algorithms used for the exhaust pressure method. Thismeasures the locust length and direction changes within the intakepressure waveform segments. This is then converted to a scale thatindicates the carbon build up within the engine 13 and is then displayedon screen 41. Additionally in either method tail pipe or intake, theignition antenna pickup could be replaced with a connection to a coil.This coil connection could be a coil primary signal, coil secondarysignal, or a coil command signal. This trigger could also be a signalfrom a fuel injector from a compression ignition engine. With a signalthat is now directly linked to a specific cylinder, the cylinder(s) canbe identified to the actual cylinder that created each of the pressurewaveforms.

In FIG. 17 the exhaust pressure waveform from a 4 cylinder 2000 ToyotaRAV 4 with a 2.0 Liter engine is shown before cleaning the inductionsystem. This is the exhaust pressure waveform that has been marked bythe microprocessor using the ignition antenna. When each of thecylinders are compared to their other count numbers (#1 to #1, #2 to #2,#3 to #3, #4 to #4) you can see differences between them. In FIG. 18these differences are put into a digital format that shows the cylinderslisted in there cylinder count columns. These cylinder data is analyzedand compared, then scaled on the carbon buildup scale shown at thebottom. The carbon buildup scale indicates a 3.60 which is a largeamount of carbon buildup in the induction system. The Toyota 2.0 Lengine was then cleaned with induction cleaning chemicals. In FIG. 19the exhaust pressure waveform that has been marked by the microprocessorusing the ignition antenna is shown after the induction cleaning. Wheneach of the cylinders are compared to their other count numbers (#1 to#1, #2 to #2, #3 to #3, #4 to #4) you can see differences between them.In FIG. 20 these differences are put into a digital format that showsthe cylinders listed in there cylinder count columns. This cylinder datagets analyzed and compared, then scaled on the carbon buildup scaleshown at the bottom. The carbon buildup scale indicates a 6.01 which ishalf the amount of carbon buildup in the induction system. The ToyotaRAV 4 then had cleaning chemicals added to the fuel tank and was drivenfor 200 miles. In FIG. 21 the exhaust pressure waveform that has beenmarked by the microprocessor using the ignition antenna is shown, aftercleaning chemicals had been added to the fuel tank and driven for 200miles. When each of the cylinders are compared to their other countnumbers (#1 to #1, #2 to #2, #3 to #3, #4 to #4) you can see very smalldifferences between them. In FIG. 22 these differences are put into adigital format that shows the cylinders listed in there cylinder countcolumns. This cylinder data gets analyzed and compared, then scaled onthe carbon buildup scale shown at the bottom. The carbon buildup scaleindicates an 8.21 which indicates the induction system is clean. WhenFIG. 17 (before cleaning) is compared with FIG. 21 (after cleaning) itis clear from the exhaust pressure waveforms that there is a largechange that occurred between them. In FIG. 17 when the engine had highcarbon buildup (high turbulent air flow) the directional changes andvariations are great, however once the induction system has been cleaned(low turbulent air flow) in FIG. 21 the direction changes and variationsare minimal. In FIG. 23 this same Toyota RAV4 has been tested using theintake method. In FIG. 23 this is the intake pressure wave form beforecleaning. In FIG. 24 this is the data from the intake pressure waveformbefore cleaning. The intake carbon buildup scale indicates a 2.35 whichcompares with the exhaust method of a 3.68, both indicate a large amountof carbon build up. In FIG. 25 this is the intake pressure waveformafter cleaning. In FIG. 26 this is the intake pressure data aftercleaning. The intake carbon buildup scale indicates a 5.65 whichcompares with the exhaust method at 6.01 this indicates a large amountof carbon buildup in the induction system. The same algorithm is used inthe exhaust method and the intake method. As one can see the results arevery close. This shows that either the exhaust method or the intakemethod can be used to find the carbon compound build up in the internalcombustion engine.

In FIG. 27 a 6 cylinder 2001 Nissan Xterra with a 3.3 Liter engine isshow before cleaning the induction system. This is the exhaust pressurewaveform that has been marked by the microprocessor using the ignitionantenna. When each of the cylinders are compared to their other countnumbers (#1 to #1, #2 to #2, #3 to #3, #4 to #4, #5 to #5, #6 to #6) youcan see differences between them. In FIG. 28 these differences are putinto a digital format that shows the cylinders listed in there cylindercount columns. This cylinder data gets analyzed and compared, thenscaled on the carbon buildup scale shown at the bottom. The carbonbuildup scale indicates a 2.96 which is a large amount of carbon buildupin the induction system. The Nissan 3.3 L engine was then cleaned withinduction cleaning chemicals. In FIG. 29 the exhaust pressure waveformthat has been marked by the microprocessor using the ignition antennashown after the induction cleaning. When each of the cylinders arecompared to their other count numbers (#1 to #1, #2 to #2, #3 to #3, #4to #4) you can see very small differences between them. In FIG. 30 thesedifferences are put into a digital format that shows the cylinderslisted in there cylinder count columns. This cylinder data gets analyzedand compared, then scaled on the carbon buildup scale shown at thebottom. The carbon buildup scale indicates a 10.0 which is very lowcarbon in the induction system. When FIG. 27 (before cleaning) iscompared with FIG. 29 (after cleaning) it is clear from the exhaustpressure waveforms that there is a large change that has occurredbetween them. In FIG. 27 when the engine had high carbon buildup (highturbulent air flow) the directional changes and variations are great,however once the induction system has been cleaned (low turbulent airflow) in FIG. 29 the direction changes and variations are minimal.

In FIG. 31 an 8 cylinder 2007 ford f150 with a 4.6 Liter engine showsthe pressure waveform before cleaning the induction system. This is theexhaust pressure waveform that has been marked by the microprocessorusing the ignition antenna. When each of the cylinders are compared totheir other count numbers (#1 to #1, #2 to #2, #3 to #3, #4 to #4, #5 to#5, #6 to #6, #7 to #7, #8 to #8) you can see differences between them.In FIG. 32 these differences are put into a digital format that showsthe cylinders listed in there cylinder count columns. This cylinder datagets analyzed and compared, then scaled on the carbon buildup scaleshown at the bottom. The carbon buildup scale indicates a 4.50 which isa large amount of carbon buildup in the induction system. The Ford 4.6 Lengine was then cleaned with induction cleaning chemicals. In FIG. 33the exhaust pressure waveform that has been marked by the microprocessorusing the ignition antenna shown after the induction cleaning. When eachof the cylinders are compared to their other count numbers (#1 to #1, #2to #2, #3 to #3, #4 to #4, #5 to #5, #6 to #6, #7 to #7, #8 to #8) youcan see very small differences between them. In FIG. 34 thesedifferences are put into a digital format that shows the cylinderslisted in there cylinder count columns. These cylinder data are analyzedand compared, then scaled on the carbon buildup scale shown at thebottom. The carbon buildup scale indicates an 8.14 which is very lowcarbon in the induction system. When FIG. 31 (before cleaning) iscompared with FIG. 33 (after cleaning) it is clear from the exhaustpressure waveforms that there is a large change that has occurredbetween them. In FIG. 31 when the engine had high carbon buildup (highturbulent air flow) the directional changes and variations are great,however once the induction system has been cleaned (low turbulent airflow) in FIG. 33 the direction changes and variations are minimal.

In FIG. 35 an 8 cylinder 1990 Lincoln Town car with a 5.0 Liter engineis show before cleaning the induction system. This is the exhaustpressure waveform that has been marked by the microprocessor using theignition antenna. When each of the cylinders are compared to their othercount numbers (#1 to #1, #2 to #2, #3 to #3, #4 to #4, #5 to #5, #6 to#6, #7 to #7, #8 to #8) you can see differences between them. Incylinder count #5 and #6 there is a large drop in exhaust pressure. Thislong LC and small DC indicate that the engine is misfiring. In FIG. 36these differences are put into a digital format that shows the cylinderslisted in there cylinder count columns. This cylinder data gets analyzedand compared, then scaled on the carbon buildup scale shown at thebottom. The carbon buildup scale indicates a 4.98 which is a largeamount of carbon buildup in the induction system. However this enginehas an engine misfire. With a misfire the problem is most likely notgoing to be repaired with an induction cleaning. Induction cleaning forthe most part is preventive maintenance, not repair. It will beimperative to alert the service personal that the engine is misfiringbefore the induction system cleaning is started. At the right bottom ofthe screen a misfire alert lamp is turned on to alert service personal.The misfire identification is accomplished by the locust length breakinga threshold, when the engine misfires, the length of the exhaust segmentis very long with very few direction changes; under these conditions amisfire is counted. If the number of misfires in a set time periodbreaks a threshold the misfire indicator is turn on. A misfire isindicated if the number of total LCs (over the time period) that arelarger than the Median LC×MisFireMultiplier (variable) is greater thanthe threshold set by the MisFireMinimumMisses (variable). In this methodthe misfire cannot be put to the cylinder that created it, this is dueto no trigger being related to a particular engine cylinder ignitionfiring event.

Through the examples it is clear that the inventive subject matter candetermine the carbon compound buildup contained within the internalcombustion engine, and determine the correct scale for said carbon. Itis also clear that the induction analyzer can determine if the internalcombustion engine is misfiring. This data can be conveyed to the servicepersonal through visual or audible alerts. It will also be important forthe induction cleaning analyzer to save the before cleaning data to theVIN number of the vehicle being tested, so it can compare the aftercleaning results to determine the carbon compound cleaning results.

In an embodiment of the induction cleaning analyzer instrumentation 11shown and described herein, the instrumentation 11 may be referred to asan induction cleaning analyzing system. The system 11 may be used toidentify pressure variations across combustion cycles of cylinders,which can be indicative of carbon build up in the engine 13. The system13 can identify the pressure variations, characterize the carbon buildup (e.g., quantify or otherwise present for use by an operator of thesystem 11), and/or recommend one or more remedial measures or actionsbased on the pressure variations.

As described above, the system 11 includes the pressure sensor 31, theignition event detector 33, and the control module 35. The module 35 mayinclude or represent one or more hardware components, such as one ormore microprocessors (also referred to as processors), controllers, andthe like. The screen 41 may be a touch screen. Optionally, one or moreinput devices, such as a key pad (not shown) and a mouse (also not show)may be provided to provide user input in addition to or in place of thescreen 41. The pressure sensor 31 and detector 33 are connected to A/Dconverter 37 via, respectively, cables 43 and 45. Optionally, thepressure sensor 31 and/or the antenna 33 may be connected via a wirelessconnection and/or via one or more other connections.

As described above, ignition signals are identified by the detector 33,which may represent or include an antenna 33 placed on top of or nearthe engine 13. For example, the antenna may be laid onto the engine 13or near the engine 13, without conductively coupling any portion of theantenna to the ignition coil 19, wires 21, or spark plugs in thecylinders 14. The detector 33 may detect when the different ignitionsignals are communicated by detecting electromagnetic interference thatis generated by transmission of the ignition signals through the wires21. Additionally or alternatively, the detector 33 may detect theignition signals as the electromagnetic interference that is generatedby the spark plugs when the different spark plugs fire.

Optionally, the detector 33 may be replaced or augmented with aconnection of the system 11 to a coil of the engine 13. This coilconnection could be a coil primary signal, coil secondary signal, or acoil command signal. The ignition signal also or alternatively could bedetected as a signal from a fuel injector from a compression ignitionengine. With such a signal that is now directly linked to a specificcylinder, the cylinder(s) can be identified to the actual cylinder thatcreated each of the pressure waveforms.

As described above, the timing of when the various cylinders 14 combustthe air/fuel charges in the cylinders 14 may be determined orapproximated using the detection signal from the detector 33. Asdescribed above, the detection signal can represent this timing (e.g.,as being representative of the ignition signals). The ignition signalscan be used to divide the exhaust pressure waveform that is obtainedusing the pressure sensor 31 into segments. Additionally oralternatively, when the pressure sensor senses the pressure of the airdrawn into the intake manifold 15, the pressure waveform may representthe intake pressure waveform, which may be divided into segments by theignition signals.

FIG. 37 illustrates an example of ignition signals 900. These ignitionsignals may be similar or identical to the signals shown in FIGS. 12 and13. The ignition signals 900 are shown alongside horizontal axes 902representative of time and vertical axes 904 representative of magnitude(e.g., voltage) of the ignition signals 900. As shown in FIG. 9, theignition signals 900 include several peaks 906 separated in time fromeach other. These peaks 906 may be used to identify when the variouscylinders 14 of the engine being monitored fire (e.g., generate sparks)or are signaled to fire. For example, peaks 906 that extend above one ormore thresholds and/or that are separated from each other by at least adesignated, non-zero time limit. For example, a peak may be identifiedas a portion of an ignition signal that extends above a magnitudethreshold and that occurs at least a designated time limit following apreceding peak. The peaks 906 may be identified by the control module35.

The control module 35 may determine the number of cylinders 14 in theengine being examined based on user input. For example, using thecomputer screen or other input device, an operator of the system 11 mayinput how many cylinders 14 are in the engine. Additionally oralternatively, the user input may provide the make, model, or type ofengine and/or vehicle that includes the engine, and the control module35 may refer to a table, list, database, or other memory structure thatassociates the different makes, models, identification numbers, or typesof engines and/or vehicles with a number of cylinders in the engineunder examination. This table, list, database, or other memory structuremay be stored in a memory that is internal to the control module 35 orthat is external but otherwise accessible to the control module 35.

For example, the number of cylinders 14 in the engine under test may beselected at the beginning of an induction cleaning analyzer test that isperformed using the system 11. Alternately, the vehicle identificationnumber can also be used for the engine type and cylinder count fromanother drop down menu, or the vehicle identification number can bescanned with a bar code reader, or manually entered, all as shown in auser input screen shot shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 38 illustrates one exampleof an input screen 1000 that may be presented to an operator of thesystem 11 via a display device. The input screen 1000 may the same as orsimilar to the screenshot shown in FIG. 10. The input screen 1000 allowsthe operator to manually select the number of cylinders 14 in the engine13, such as by selecting a box or other icon 1002 from several icons1002 that represent different numbers of cylinders 14. This input may beused by the system 11 to determine which peaks in the ignition signalsare associated with the same cylinders, as described below.

FIG. 39 illustrates another example of an input screen 1300 that may bepresented to an operator of the system 11 via a display device. Theinput screen 1300 may be the same as or similar to the screen shown inFIG. 11. The input screen 1300 allows the operator to determine thenumber of cylinders 14 in the engine 13 for the system 11 in a moreautomated or user-friendly manner, such as by manually inputting thevehicle identification number (VIN) into an input section 1302 of theinput screen 1300. The VIN (or a portion thereof) may be associated witha number of cylinders 14 in an engine 13 in a table, list, database, orother memory structure of the system 11 or that is otherwise accessibleto the system 11. Additionally or alternatively, the system 11 may beconnected to an optical scanner as an input device, such as a bar codereader. This optical scanner may be used to scan indicia printed on ornear the vehicle in order to determine the VIN; or the make, model,and/or type of engine 13. The system 11 may then use the VIN and/ormake, model, and/or type of engine to determine the number of cylinders14 in the engine 13, such as from a table, list, database, or othermemory structure that associates the VIN (or a portion thereof) and/orthe make, model, and/or type of engine 13 with a number of cylinders 14in the engine 13.

With the number of cylinders known, the control module 35 (e.g., themicroprocessor operating based on a trigger detector algorithm) canidentify ignition events 908 representative of times at which sparkplugs in an internal combustion engine are firing or times at whichelectric fuel injector turn on pulses of a diesel engine occur. In anembodiment, the control module 35 can identify the ignition events 908based on when the peaks 906 are identified. Optionally, the controlmodule 35 can identify the ignition events 908 even when one or more ofthe peaks 906 are not detected by the detector, such as due toinaccurate placement of the detector, weakened ignition signals, wheresome ignition coils are shielded, and the like.

For example, in an embodiment, the control module 35 examines theignition signals and identifies peak voltages as the peaks 906 as beingrepresentative of when the ignition events 908 of the spark plugs in aninternal combustion engine or electric fuel injector turn on pulses of adiesel engine actually occur. The control module 35 may optionallyexamine the ignition signals and identifies peak voltages as the peaks906 as being representative of times that are offset by the ignitionevents 908 by a designated time period.

The control module 35 may ensure that the ignition events 908 areidentified as occurring at accurate times relative to actual operationof the engine by identifying the ignition events 908 at times that arebased on when the peaks 906 occur and/or based on one or moreoperational parameters of the engine. These operational parameters maybe obtained via user input and/or from a memory structure included in orotherwise accessible to the control module 35. The operationalparameters may include a number of cylinders 14 in the engine, thetypical (e.g., average, median, or designated) operating speed (e.g.,revolutions per minute or RPM) of the engine under test, the actualoperating speed of the engine under test, and the like.

The control module 35 can move (with respect to time) the identificationof an ignition event 908 relative to detection of a peak 906 and/oridentify an ignition event 908 where no peak 906 is identified to ensurethat the ignition events 908 are consistent with (e.g., are correlatedto) expected ignition event intervals of the engine. The expectedignition event intervals represent time periods or times at whichignition events are expected to occur according to the operationalparameters of the engine. For example, different makes, models, and/ortypes of engines, different operating speeds of the engine, differentnumbers of cylinders in the engine, or the like, may be associated withdifferent times at which the ignition events are expected or calculatedto occur.

If the control module 35 does not identify a peak 906 at an expectedtime or within an expected time interval (e.g., based on the make,model, and/or type of engine, engine operating speed, number ofcylinders, and the like), the control module 35 may determine that anignition interval occurred at that expected time or within the expectedtime interval, even though no peak was detected at the time or withinthat time period. For example, if the control module 35 detects aprevious peak 906 at a previous time and expects to detect a subsequentpeak 906 at a subsequent time (based on operational parameters of theengine), but does not actually detect the subsequent peak 906, thecontrol module 35 may still consider an ignition event occurring at thesubsequent time or within a subsequent time period based on theoperational parameters of the engine. This can ensure evenly and/or moreaccurately identified ignition events marks for accurate exhaust (orintake in the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8) segment lengths,one for each cylinder of the engine being tested.

Temporal segments of interest 910 are identified by the control module35 based on the ignition events that are identified by the controlmodule 35. These segments of interest 910 can represent combustioncycles of the cylinders 14. The segments of interest 910 may be bounded(with respect to time) by sequential ignition events 908. If the intakepressure of the engine is being monitored, then the segments of interest910 can represent intake segments of interest. If the exhaust pressureof the engine is being monitored, then the segments of interest canrepresent exhaust segments of interest.

The ignition events 908 and/or segments of interest 910 can representcombustion cycles of the cylinders 14. For example, the differentignition events 908 can represent the time at which the power strokes ofthe different cylinders 14 occurs or is directed to occur (e.g., bytransmission of an ignition signal). The segments of interest 910 mayrepresent the time period over which the four stroke combustion cycleoccurs for the various cylinders 14. For example, a segment of interest910 for a cylinder 14 may begin at the power stroke of the cylinder 14,extend across the exhaust stroke and the induction stroke, and terminateat the end or near the end of the compression stroke.

After the segments of interest 910 and/or ignition events 908 areidentified, one of the ignition events 908 or segments of interest 910is selected as a point at which the microprocessor starts a cylindercount. In an embodiment, the ignition event 908 or segment of interest910 that is selected need not correspond to the firing of a firstcylinder (or any particular cylinder) of the engine. Based on whichignition event 908 or segment of interest 910 is selected, the controlmodule 35 may associate different segments of interests 910 withdifferent cylinders 14 of the engine. For example, if the engine hasfour cylinders 14, then the control module 35 may associate every fourthsegment of interest 910 with a different cylinder. One cylinder may beassociated with the first, fifth, ninth, and so on, segment of interest910, another cylinder may be associated with the second, sixth, tenth,and so on, segment of interest 910, another cylinder may be associatedwith the third, seventh, eleventh, and so on, segment of interest 910,and the other cylinder may be associated with the fourth, eighth,twelfth, and so on, segment of interest 910. As another example, if theengine has six cylinders 14, then the control module 35 may associateevery sixth segment of interest 910 with a different cylinder. Thesegments of interest 910 are compared to pressure waveforms detected bythe pressure sensor 31 to associate different waveform segments withdifferent cylinders 14 of the engine.

FIG. 40 is a schematic example of pressure waveforms 1100 for an engine.The pressure waveforms 1100 represent exhaust or intake pressures thatare measured for an engine during operation of the engine and overseveral ignition events and/or multiple four stroke combustion cycles ofmultiple cylinders 14 in the same engine. The pressure waveforms 1100are shown alongside a horizontal axis 1102 representative of time and avertical axis 1106 representative of pressure magnitudes. Because theintake or exhaust pressure is measured upstream or downstream of severalor all of the cylinders 14 (as described and shown above), it may not beknown which pressure waveform corresponds to the ignition event of whichcylinder 14. For example, because each cylinder 14 separately draws airinto the cylinder 14 (e.g., intake air) from the same intake airflowpassageway used by the other cylinders 14 and each cylinder 14separately exhausts combusted air/fuel charges from the cylinder 14 intothe same exhaust airflow passageway (e.g., an exhaust manifold ortailpipe), the pressure waveform 1100 alone may be insufficient toidentify which segments or portions of the pressure waveforms 1100represent the intake or exhaust pressures generated by individual onesof the cylinders 14.

In order to determine which portions of the pressure waveforms 1100correspond to the intake or exhaust pressure generated by the differentcylinders, the control module 35 may compare the segments of interest910 and/or ignition events 908 of the cylinders 14 with the pressurewaveforms 1100. For example, the time periods over which the varioussegments of interest 910 occur may be compared to (e.g., overlaid with)the pressure waveforms 1100 to determine which pressure waveforms 1100occur or are measured during the corresponding segments of interest 910.

Different waveform segments 1100 may occur during (e.g., are locatedwithin) the same time periods as different segments of interest 910. Forexample, a first segment of interest 910 may extend from a time t₀ to alater time t₁. The portion of the pressure waveform 1100 that occursduring this same time period as the first segment of interest 910 (e.g.,from the time t₀ to the time t₁) may be a first waveform segment 1100A.A subsequent, second segment of interest 910 may extend from the time t₁to a later time t₂. The portion of the pressure waveform 1100 thatoccurs during this same time period as the second segment of interest910 may be a second waveform segment 1100B. A subsequent, third segmentof interest 910 may extend from the time t₂ to a later time t₃. Theportion of the pressure waveform 1100 that occurs during this same timeperiod as the third segment of interest 910 may be a third waveformsegment 1100C. Additional waveform segments 1106 may be identified foradditional segments of interest 910.

Additionally or alternatively, the waveform segments 1106 may beidentified for the different ignition events 908. When an ignition event908 occurs or is identified, the control module 305 may include theportion of the pressure waveform 1100 that occur over a time period thatbegins at the same time as the ignition event 908 (or a designated timeperiod that is offset from the ignition event 908) and ends a designatedtime period later. For example, if a first ignition event 908 occurs ata time t₀, the control module 35 may begin including the portions of thepressure waveforms 1100 that follow the time t₀ for a designated timeperiod, such as several milliseconds or seconds.

The portions of the pressure waveform 1100 that follow the time at whichthe ignition event 908 occurs during this designated time period areincluded in the first waveform segment 1106A. If a subsequent, secondignition event 908 occurs at a later time t₁, the control module 35 maybegin including the portions of the pressure waveforms 1100 that followthe time t₁ for the same designated time period. The portions of thepressure waveform 1100 that follow the time at which the second ignitionevent 908 occurs during this designated time period are included in thesecond waveform segment 1106B. If a subsequent, third ignition event 908occurs at a later time t₂, the control module 35 may begin including theportions of the pressure waveforms 1100 that follow the time t₂ for thesame designated time period. The portions of the pressure waveform 1100that follow the time at which the third ignition event 908 occurs duringthis designated time period are included in the third waveform segment1106C. Additional waveform segments 1106 may be identified in a similarmanner.

The designated time period used to identify which portions of thepressure waveforms 1100 that are included in the different waveformsegments 1106 may be based on operating parameters of the engine. Forexample, the designated time period may be sufficiently short so thatthe waveform segment 1106 associated with one ignition event 908 doesnot extend into another, immediately following ignition event 908.

Each of the waveform segments 1106 may represent a combustion cycle(e.g., a four stroke combustion cycle) of a cylinder 14. Severalwaveform segments 1106 may be identified for the same cylinder 14. Foran n cylinder engine (where N represents the number of cylinders 14 inthe engine), every n^(th) waveform segment 1106 may correspond to thesame cylinder 14. The control module 35 may determine the value of nfrom the user input, as described above. As one example, in an enginehaving four cylinders 14, the first, fifth, ninth, and so on, waveformsegments 1106 may represent the pressure of the intake or exhaust fromone cylinder 14, the second, sixth, tenth, and so on, waveform segments1106 may represent the pressure of the intake or exhaust from anothercylinder 14 in the same engine, the third, seventh, eleventh, and so on,waveform segments 1106 may represent the pressure of the intake orexhaust from another cylinder 14 in the same engine, and the fourth,eighth, twelfth, and so on, waveform segments 1106 may represent thepressure of the intake or exhaust from another cylinder 14 in the sameengine.

The control module 35 may determine subsets of the waveform segments1106 in the pressure waveforms 1100 as being associated with differentones of the cylinders 14. For example, in a six cylinder engine, thefirst, seventh, thirteenth, and so on, waveform segments 1106 may beincluded in a first subset of waveform segments 1106 that is associatedwith one cylinder 14, the second, eighth, fourteenth, and so on,waveform segments 1106 may be included in a different, second subset ofwaveform segments 1106 that is associated with another cylinder 14, andso on. The different subsets of waveform segments 1106 may be different,non-overlapping subsets such that no waveform segment 1106 in twodifferent subsets is associated with different cylinder 14.

The order in which the waveform segments 1106 are identified may notdirectly correspond to the number of the cylinder in the engine. Forexample, the four cylinders 14 in the engine referred to above may beassociated with (e.g., identified by) designated numbers, such ascylinder #1, cylinder #2, cylinder #3, and cylinder #4. The first,fifth, ninth, and so on, waveform segments 1106 that are identified fromthe pressure waveforms 1100 may not necessarily correspond to the intakeor exhaust pressures generated by cylinder #1. Instead, these waveformsegments 1106 may correspond to the pressures generated by anothercylinder.

In an embodiment, once one or more waveform segments 1106 are identifiedfor the different cylinders 14 in the engine, the control module 35 mayseparately examine the waveform segments 1106 associated with each ofthe cylinders 14 in order to identify cyclic variations. By “separatelyexamine,” it is meant that, for a particular cylinder 14, the controlmodule 35 may analyze the waveform segments 1106 that correspond to thatcylinder 14 without examining or analyzing the waveform segments 1106associated with one or more other cylinders 14. The control module 35may separately examine the cylinders 14 in the engine by only analyzingthe waveform segments 1102 associated with each of those cylinders 14.

FIG. 41 is an example of a waveform segment 1200 that may be identifiedfor a cylinder 14. The waveform segment 1200 may represent a single oneof the waveform segments 1106. Alternatively, the waveform segment 1200may represent multiple waveform segments 1106 for a single cylinder 14(e.g., an average, median, or other measure of multiple waveformsegments 1106). The waveform segment 1200 is shown alongside ahorizontal axis 1202 representative of time and a vertical axis 1204representative of measured intake or exhaust pressure.

The control module 35 can examine the waveform segment 1200 to determineone or more pressure indices representative of the waveform segment1200. These pressure indices can be compared to other waveform segments1200 for the same cylinder 14 in order to identify variations in theintake or exhaust pressures of the same cylinder 14 over multiple cyclesof operation of the cylinder 14 (e.g., multiple combustion cycles). Thepressure indices described herein are provided merely as some examplesand are not intended to be limiting on all embodiments of the inventivesubject matter. Other measurements or quantifications of differencesbetween the intake and/or exhaust pressures among multiple combustioncycles of one or more of the cylinders 14 may be used.

One pressure index that may be determined by the control module 35 is anupper pressure index 1206. The upper pressure index 1206 can represent apressure of the waveform segment 1200 that is greater than one or moreother pressures of the waveform segment 1200. As one example, the upperpressure index 1206 can be the maximum measured pressure of the waveformsegment 1200. As another example, the upper pressure index 1206 may be ameasured pressure other than the maximum pressure in the waveformsegment 1200. The upper pressure index 1206 may be referred to herein as“max.”

Another pressure index that may be determined by the control module 35is a waveform or locus length index 1208. This index may be referred toherein as waveform length, LC, and/or an overall length. The locuslength 1208 can represent the actual length of a waveform, such as thelength along the path of the waveform. As an example, the locus lengthof a waveform can be the distance that extends from the location 1210 toa peak 1224 of the waveform and from the peak 1224 to the location 1212.The locus length may be determined by counting the points (e.g., datapoints representative of pressures at different times) that form thewaveform. These points are extrapolated with a linear line to make upthe waveform. If the points are counted in a set period of time, thewaveform length (e.g., the locus length (shown as 1208 in FIG. 41) canbe known.

Another pressure index that may be determined by the control module 35is a direction change index. This index also may be referred to asdirection changes, overall direction changes, and/or DC. The directionchanges are the number of up and down changes 1214 that occur in thewaveform within a given period of time. Each time the waveform changesfrom an up to down movement this is a count, and each time the waveformchanges from a down to up movement this is a count. Each directionchange is a count, and these counts are totaled for a period of timefrom one ignition event to the next ignition event. In an embodiment,the changes 1214 that are counted are the changes that occur after thepeak 1224 of the waveform 1200. In the illustrated example, sevenchanges 1214 are identified (e.g., changes 1214A-G). Accordingly, thedirection change index of the waveform segment 1200 may be seven oranother number that is based on eight.

Another pressure index that may be determined by the control module 35is a lower pressure index 1216. This index also may be referred toherein as “min.” The lower pressure index 1216 can represent a pressureof the waveform segment 1200 that is less than one or more otherpressures of the waveform segment 1200. As one example, the lowerpressure index 1216 can be the lowest measured pressure (e.g., minimumpressure) of the waveform segment 1200. As another example, the lowerpressure index 1216 may be a measured pressure other than the lowestpressure in the waveform segment 1200.

Another pressure index that may be determined by the control module 35is a hump pressure index 1218. This index also may be referred to as an80/20 hump, an 80/20 hump percent, and/or “hump %.” The hump pressureindex 1218 represents an upper or maximum pressure of the waveformsegment 1200 that is measured following the upper pressure index 1206and that occurs within a designated range 1220 of the upper pressureindex 1206. The designated range 1220 may be based on the upper pressureindex 1206. For example, the designated range 1220 may extend from alower pressure 1222 (e.g., 20% or another percentage or amount of theupper pressure index 1206) to an upper pressure 1224 (e.g., 80% oranother percentage or amount of the upper pressure index 1206). Inanother example, the lower pressure 1222 may occur at a designatedpercentage of the difference between the upper and lower pressureindices 1206, 1216 (e.g., 20% or another percentage of this difference)and the upper pressure 1224 may occur at another designated percentageof the difference between the upper and lower pressure indices 1206,1216 (e.g., 80% or another percentage of this difference).

The control module 35 may examine one or more of the above pressureindices for the waveform segments 1200 associated with the same cylinder14 in order to identify cyclic variations in the intake or exhaustpressures of the cylinder 14 over time. These variations may beindicative of carbon build up in the engine 13. In one aspect, thecontrol module 35 may compare pressure indices of individual waveformsegments 1200 with each other to identify cyclic pressure variations. Inanother aspect, the control module 35 may determine averages, medians,or other measurements representative of several pressure indices andcompare pressure indices of individual waveform segments 1200 with theaverages, medians, or other measurements to identify cyclic pressurevariations.

As one example, the control module 35 may compare the upper pressureindices 1206 for two or more waveform segments 1200 associated with thesame cylinder 14 to identify differences between the upper pressureindices 1206. If the difference between the upper pressure indices 1206of the waveform segments 1200 exceeds a designated threshold (e.g., athreshold that is operator-selected, hardware fixed, or based on a make,model, and/or type of the engine), then the control module 35 maydetermine that the cyclic pressure variations for that cylinder 14indicate an unacceptable amount of carbon build up.

As one example, the control module 35 may compare the lower pressureindices 1216 for two or more waveform segments 1200 associated with thesame cylinder 14 to identify differences between the lower pressureindices 1216. If the difference between the lower pressure indices 1216of the waveform segments 1200 exceeds a designated threshold (e.g., athreshold that is operator-selected, hardware fixed, or based on a make,model, and/or type of the engine), then the control module 35 maydetermine that the cyclic pressure variations for that cylinder 14indicate an unacceptable amount of carbon build up. The differencesbetween lower pressure indices may be referred to as a difference inminimum bottoms or difference in minimum bottom percentages.

As another example, the control module 35 may compare the length indices1208 for waveform segments 1200 associated with the same cylinder 14.The length indices 1208 may vary among the waveform segments 1200 wheninduction turbulence is present, which may indicate that carbon build uphas reached unacceptable levels. Therefore, if the control module 35determines that the length indices 1208 change by more than a thresholdamount, then the control module 35 may determine that the cyclicpressure variations for that cylinder 14 indicate an unacceptable amountof carbon build up.

As another example, the control module 35 may compare the directionchange indices for waveform segments 1200 associated with the samecylinder 14. The number of direction changes may vary among the waveformsegments 1200 when induction turbulence is present, which may indicatethat carbon build up has reached unacceptable levels. Therefore, if thecontrol module 35 determines that the number of direction changes variesby more than a threshold amount among two or more of the waveformsegments 1200, then the control module 35 may determine that the cyclicpressure variations for that cylinder 14 indicate an unacceptable amountof carbon build up.

As another example, the control module 35 may examine the hump pressureindices 1216 for one or more of the waveform segments 1200. In oneaspect, if the hump pressure index 1216 for a waveform segment 1200exceeds a non-zero threshold, the control module 35 may determine thatthe cylinder 14 is associated with an unacceptable level or amount ofcarbon build up in the engine 13. Additionally or alternatively, ifdifferences between the hump pressure indices 1216 for two or more ofthe waveform segments 1200 associated with the same cylinder 14 exceed anon-zero threshold, the control module 35 may determine that thecylinder 14 is associated with an unacceptable level or amount of carbonbuild up in the engine 13.

As another example, the control module 35 may compare the length indices1208 (which may be referred to by LC) and direction change indices(which may be referred to as DC) for waveform segments 1200 associatedwith the same cylinder 14. In one aspect, the control module 35 dividesthe length index 1208 by the number of directional changes for each oftwo or more waveform segments 1200 associated with the same cylinder 14to obtain a derived index (e.g., LC/DC) for these waveform segments1200.

This derived index may be calculated for several waveform segments 1200and the average, median, or other measurement of the several derivedindices may be determined. Additionally or alternatively, a variance(e.g., standard deviation) of the several derived indices may becalculated. The average, median, or other measurement of several ofthese variances may be determined. Relatively short length indices 1208and/or relatively large numbers of direction changes in the waveformsegments 1200 may indicate turbulence associated with the intake air orexhaust of the cylinder 14. Consequently, smaller derived indices may berepresentative of increased carbon build up associated with the cylinder14.

In one aspect, the derived index is calculated several times for thesame cylinder and then averaged. A variance that is based off of thederived index also is calculated for the cylinder. This variance of theLC/DC is then averaged and then the average LC/DC is multiplied by theaverage variance of the LC/DC.

The control module 35 can use one or more of the indices describedabove, the calculations performed using the indices described above, orother analysis of the indices of the waveform segments 1200 to derive ascale index of the cylinder 14 (from which the indices are obtained)and/or a scale index of the engine 13. For example, one or more of theindices described above, the differences between the indices, thevariances among the indices, or the like, may be converted into a scaleindex between a lower value and an upper value, such as between a valueof 0 (or 1) and 10. Lower values may represent an engine 13 that likelyhas a significant amount of turbulence and, as a result, should becleaned. Higher values may represent an engine 14 that is less likely tohave a significant amount of turbulence and, as a result, may not needto be cleaned. Alternatively, lower values may represent an engine 13that is less likely to have carbon build up and higher values mayrepresent an engine 13 that is more likely to have carbon build up.

FIG. 42 illustrates an example of a testing results scale 1400 that canbe presented to an operator of the system 11. The scale may be similarto or the same as the scale shown in FIG. 15. The scale 1400 also may bereferred to as a carbon build up scale. The scale 1400 may be used toprovide a relatively easy to interpret summary of the results of thesystem 11 testing the potential carbon build up in the engine 13. Forexample, the scale 1400 may be presented to an operator on a displaydevice of the system 11. The illustrated scale 1400 extends from a valueof 0 to a value of 10. A range of colors may be displayed along thescale 1400 to represent the different values. For example, larger values(e.g., ten to eight) may be associated with green or different shades ofgreen, larger intermediate values (e.g., eight to six) may be associatedwith yellow or different shades of yellow, smaller intermediate values(e.g., six to four) may be associated with orange or different shades oforange, and smaller values (e.g., four to zero) may be associated withred or different shades of red. The values associated with green colorsmay represent engines 13 having relatively low amounts of carbon buildup, as determined from the pressure indices described above. The valuesassociated with yellow colors may represent engines 13 having greateramounts of carbon build up, as determined from the pressure indicesdescribed above. The values associated with orange colors may representengines 13 having even greater amounts of carbon build up, as determinedfrom the pressure indices described above. The values associated withred colors may represent engines 13 having significant amounts of carbonbuild up, as determined from the pressure indices described above. Whilevalues of zero to ten and various colors are described in connectionwith the scale 1400, optionally other values and/or colors may be used,and/or another visual representation of the amount of carbon build up inthe engine 13.

A visual indicator 1402 may point to a location along the scale 1400 torepresent the amount of carbon build up identified by the system 11using the pressure indices described above. The location of theindicator 1402 along the scale 1400 (and/or the corresponding numericalvalue) may clearly indicate to the operator how much carbon build up isdetected in the engine 11.

The operator may refer to the location of the indicator 1402 on thescale 1400 to determine if the engine 13 needs to be cleaned to reduceor remove the carbon build up that is identified. For example, theoperator may manually determine whether to recommend cleaning the engine13 based on the location of the indicator 1402. The indicator 1402 andscale 1400 also may be presented to the owner of the vehicle thatincludes the engine 13 to assist the owner to determine whether to cleanthe engine 13. Optionally, the system 11 may provide a recommendation toclean or not clean the engine 13 based on the pressure indices. Forexample, if the indicator 1402 would otherwise be located below athreshold value on the scale 1400, the system 11 may automaticallyrecommend cleaning the engine 13. It the indicator 1402 would otherwisebe located at or above the threshold value on the scale 1400, the system11 may not recommend cleaning the engine 13, but may recommend returningto have the engine 13 tested again within a designated time period thatis tied to the value along the scale 1400. For example, for smallervalues, the system 11 may recommend returning sooner to have the engine13 tested again relative to larger values along the scale 1400.

The operator may select one or more cleaning processes for the engine 13based on the location of the indicator 1402 along the scale 1400. Forexample, for engines 13 that are determined by the system 11 to havesignificantly large amounts of carbon build up, the operator mayrecommend a more intensive and/or more expensive cleaning process(and/or multiple cleaning processes) for the engine 13 in order toremove the large amounts of carbon build up. For engines 13 that aredetermined by the system 11 to have lesser amounts of carbon build up,the operator may recommend a less intensive and/or less expensivecleaning process (and/or fewer cleaning processes) for the engine 13 inorder to remove the smaller amounts of carbon build up. The system 11may optionally automatically recommend one or more of these cleaningprocesses based on the value of the indicator 1402 along the scale 1400,similar to as described above.

In an embodiment, the control module 35 examines the pressure indicesfor a cylinder 14 as follows. The control module 35 determines upper andlower pressure indices for several waveform segments 1102, 1200associated with the cylinder 14. These upper pressure indices areaveraged (or a median may be determined) and these lower pressureindices are averaged (or a median may be determined). Several averages(or medians) may be determined over time. For example, another average(or median) may be calculated for each of several designated timeperiods.

The lower pressure indices are compared such that, if the average (ormedian) of the lower pressure indices, change by more than a designatedthreshold, the system 11 determines that the induction system of theengine 11 has carbon build up. The average (or median) of the lowerpressure indices may be scaled onto the carbon build up scale. Forexample, large differences in averages (or medians) of the lowerpressure indices may be associated with smaller values along the scale1400. Smaller differences in averages (or medians) of the lower pressureindices may be associated with larger values along the scale 1400.

In an aspect, the system 11 may record a log or history of the pressureindices and/or waveform segments of the cylinders 14 for an engine 13.This log or history may be recorded, such as in a remotely locatedcentralized database. Upon future tests of the engine 13 using thesystem 11 (at the same or different location), the log or history ofpressure indices and/or waveform segments may be compared to additional(e.g., new) pressure indices and/or waveform segments in order toidentify trends or changes in performance of the engine 13 over time.These trends or changes may be referred to as long term changes ortrends, as the changes or trends are identified over multiple, separatetests of the engine 13 that are performed at different times (e.g.,different days, weeks, months, or years). The trends or changes mayindicate decreased performance of the engine 13 due to carbon build upthat may not be detected by the system 11 just examining the waveformsegments 1102, 1200 or pressure indices during a current test. Forexample, the upper and/or lower pressure indices, the hump pressureindices, or the like, may not exhibit significant changes during asingle test of the engine 13 by the system 11, but may show significantchanges (e.g., decreases or increases) across multiple tests conductedover time (e.g., on different days, weeks, months, or years). The system11 may scale these long term changes to the scale 1400 to indicate tothe operator of carbon build up and/or to recommend a cleaning of theengine 13.

In an aspect, the system 11 may have access to designated waveformsegments and/or designated pressure indices that can be compared to theactual waveform segments and/or actual pressure indices of an engine 13.These waveform segments and/or pressure indices can be established fordifferent makes, models, and/or types of engines 13, and/or may bemodified to account for increasing age of the engine 13, the geographiclocation of where the engine 13 is operated, and the like. Thedesignated waveform segments and/or pressure indices may be stored on amemory (e.g., a database) that is included in or otherwise accessible tothe system 11. The system 11 can compare actual waveform segments and/orpressure indices of the engine 13 to the designated waveform segmentsand/or pressure indices to determine if performance of the engine 13deviates from the performance represented by the designated waveformsegments and/or pressure indices. If such a deviation is identified(e.g., by the waveform segments and/or pressure indices varying by morethan a designated, non-zero threshold), then the system 11 may identifypotential carbon build up and/or recommend one or more cleaningprocesses for the engine 13.

The system 11 may detect misfires of the engine 13 using the pressureindices. A misfire can represent an ignition event that fails to occurwhen directed or expected. For example, a misfire can occur when thefuel/air charge in a cylinder 14 does not ignite when the spark plugassociated with the cylinder 14 fires (or within a non-zero designatedtime period). The system 11 may determine that a misfire occurs when anumber of locus length indices (LC) 1208 that are larger (e.g., longer)than a median (or average) of the locus length indices 1208 for theengine 13 exceeds a designated threshold. The median (or average) of thelocus length indices 1208 may be modified by a correction factor (e.g.,may be referred to as MisFireMultiplier).

FIGS. 43A and 43B illustrate a flowchart of an example of a method 1500for analyzing carbon buildup in an engine. The method 1500 may be usedin connection with the system 11 shown and described herein in order todetermine carbon buildup in the engine 13. Alternatively, the method1500 may be used with another, different system 11. The operationsdescribed in connection with the method 1500 may be performed in anorder other than the order set forth herein. Optionally, one or more ofthe operations described herein may be omitted from the method 1500.

At 1502, the engine is activated. For example, the vehicle may be turnedon such that the engine is operating at a speed, such as an idle speed.Alternatively, the engine may be activated at a later time in the method1500.

At 1504, a pressure sensor is positioned in a common passageway of theengine. For example, a pressure sensor may be placed into a tailpipe ofthe vehicle and downstream of the cylinders of the engine to measureexhaust pressures. Alternatively, the pressure sensor may be placed intoan intake manifold of the engine that is upstream of the cylinders tomeasure intake pressures.

At 1506, a detector is positioned near the engine. The detector ispositioned to allow the detector to wirelessly detect ignition signalsor firings of the spark plugs of the engine, in an embodiment. Thedetector may be placed on top of or in other proximity to the enginewithout conductively coupling the detector to the engine or spark plugsof the engine. Alternatively, the method 1500 may directly measure theignition signals sent to the engine, such as by the system 11 beingconductively coupled with wires or other conductors that convey theignition signals to the spark plugs.

At 1508, the test of the intake and/or exhaust pressures of the engineis initiated. The test may be initiated by an operator providing input(e.g., pressing a button, selecting an icon, or other action) to thesystem 11 to direct the system 11 to begin the test.

At 1510, information about the engine is obtained. This information caninclude, for example, the VIN of the vehicle that includes the engine;the make, model, and/or type of the vehicle and/or engine; the mileageof the engine; whether the test is being performed before cleaning theengine, after cleaning the engine, after cleaning the engine and afteroperating the vehicle for at least a designated time and/or distance; orif it is unknown whether the engine has been cleaned. The VIN, make ofthe vehicle, model of the vehicle, and/or type of the vehicle may beused to determine how many cylinders are in the engine. The informationabout whether the engine has or has not been cleaned may be used inorder to determine if a previous cleaning of the engine was effective toreduce the carbon build up in the engine.

At 1512, data signals provided by the pressure sensor and detector aremonitored. The data signals from the pressure sensor may be pressurewaveforms representative of intake or exhaust pressures measured by thepressure sensor. The data signals from the detector may be ignitionsignals representative of ignition events of the cylinders in theengine.

At 1514, a determination is made as to whether the data signals indicatean erroneous setup for the test. For example, the ignition signals maybe examined to determine if the ignition signals are occurring toofrequently or not frequently enough based on operating parameters of theengine. In such a scenario, the detector may not be detecting all of theignition events or may be detecting signals other than ignition events(and interpreting these other signals as ignition events). Additionallyor alternatively, the pressure waveforms may be too small to detect, notvary with respect to time, or have other parameters that may indicatethat the pressures being sensed by the pressure sensor are notindicative of exhaust or intake pressures. If the data signals indicatea potential error, then the test may need to be restarted and flow ofthe method 1500 proceeds to 1516. If the data signals do not indicatesuch an error, then the test may proceed and the method 1500 maycontinue to 1518.

At 1516, the operator may be notified of the potential error in thesetup of the test and/or the test may be suspended. The operator mayreposition the detector and/or pressure sensor and attempt to conductthe test again.

At 1518, data signals provided by the pressure sensor and detector aremonitored. The data signals from the pressure sensor may be pressurewaveforms representative of intake or exhaust pressures measured by thepressure sensor. The data signals from the detector may be ignitionsignals representative of ignition events of the cylinders in theengine.

At 1520, the pressure waveforms are divided into waveform segments. Asdescribed above, the pressure waveforms may be divided by the timing atwhich the ignition signals indicate ignition events so that severalwaveform segments are obtained. The waveform segments represent intakeor exhaust pressures associated with the various cylinders, also asdescribed above.

At 1522, the waveform segments are associated with the differentcylinders. For example, depending on the number of cylinders in theengine, the method 1500 may associate different waveform segments withdifferent cylinders, as described above.

At 1524, pressure indices are determined for the various cylinders fromthe waveform segments associated with the different cylinders. Thesepressure indices can include, but are not limited to, locus lengthindices (LC) 1208, direction change indices (DC), upper or maximumvalues of DC/LC, lower or minimum values of DC/LC, differences betweenthe upper or maximum values of DC/LC and the lower or minimum values ofDC/LC, a standard deviation or other variance of DC/LC, hump pressureindices 1218, average or median hump pressure indices 1218, a product ofthe average or median of DC/LC and the standard deviation or variance ofDC/LC, an average or median of LC, an average or median of DC/LC, or thelike.

At 1526, one or more of the pressure indices are compared acrossmultiple combustion cycles for individual cylinders to identifyvariations in the pressure indices for the individual cylinders. Forexample, the pressure indices for each cylinder may be compared to eachother over time, and variations among or between the pressure indicesfor each cylinder may be examined. The variations in the pressureindices may indicate carbon build up in the engine (or other combustionproblems with the engine). For example, relatively large variations inthe pressure indices for a cylinder may indicate that there is carbonbuild up in the cylinder. The magnitude of variations may be associatedwith a score or other quantifiable measure that can be used to notifythe operator, as described above.

At 1528, a determination is made as to whether the pressure indicesindicate that a misfire has occurred in the engine. As described above,misfires of the engine may be detected when a number of locus lengthindices (LC) 1208 that are larger (e.g., longer) than a median (oraverage) of the locus length indices 1208 for the engine 13 exceeds adesignated threshold. The median (or average) of the locus lengthindices 1208 may be modified by a correction factor (e.g., may bereferred to as MisFireMultiplier). If a potential misfire of a cylinderis identified, flow of the method 1500 may proceed to 1530, where theidentified potential misfire is reported to an operator of the system.The method 1500 may then continue to 1532. If no misfire is detected,flow of the method 1500 may proceed to 1532.

At 1532, a score or other indicator is provided to an operator torepresent the amount of carbon build up in the engine based on theexamined pressure indicators. As described above, this score may bepresented on a scale that provides a relative indication of how muchcarbon has built up in the engine.

At 1534, one or more recommendations are provided for the engine basedon the score or other indicator. The recommendations may includecleaning the engine, cleaning the engine with a particular cleaningprocess, returning the vehicle for a later test, and the like. Differentcleaning processes can be recommended for different amounts of carbonbuild up in the engine.

In an embodiment, a method of identifying cyclic variations incombustion efficiency in cylinders of an internal combustion engine withaid of instrumentation is provided. The engine includes an air inductionsystem, the cylinders, means for generating an ignition event for eachof the cylinders, and an exhaust system. The instrumentation includesone or more microprocessors programmed with one or more softwareroutines, memory, and means for measuring cylinder pressure pulses. Themethod includes running the engine through a number of combustioncycles, measuring the pressure pulses with the means for measuringcylinder pressure pulses, generating a waveform from the measuredcylinder pressure pulses, and dividing the waveform of the measuredcylinder pressure pulses into waveform cycles and cycle segments. Eachwaveform cycle represents a complete combustion cycle of the engine.Each cycle segment represents a combustion cycle of a separate cylinderof the engine. A total number of the cycle segments equals a totalnumber of the cylinders. The method also includes marking each of thewaveform segments from a cycle of the engine with a separate anddistinct identifier, and repeating this identifier sequence for a numberof successive cycles and comparing each individual waveform segmentduring a particular cycle with the waveform segment having the sameidentifier for a number of successive cycles to identify cycle to cyclevariations for each waveform segment.

In one aspect, the instrumentation further includes means for detectingat least some of the ignition events. Dividing the waveform intowaveform cycles and waveform segments includes utilizing the at leastsome of the ignition events that are detected.

In one aspect, the means for detecting at least some of the ignitionsignals includes an antenna, and the method also includes placing theantenna relative to the engine so that the antenna can detect at leastsome of the ignition events. The one or more software routines includesa routine to determine if the antenna is properly positioned relative tothe engine such that the antenna is detecting at least some of theignition signals. The method also can include determining if the antennais properly positioned before proceeding to identify cyclic pressurevariations in the combustion efficiency.

In one aspect, the one or more software routines includes a routine thatsuspends testing if the antenna is not properly positioned.

In one aspect, the instrumentation includes means for generating analert signal and, in addition to suspending testing, the one or moreroutines includes a routine activates the means for generating an alertsignal.

In one aspect, when the antenna does not pick up all of the ignitionevents from the engine, the one or more software routines includes aroutine to identify and install waveform divisions on the pressurewaveform that are not based on an ignition event picked up by theantenna. Dividing the waveform into divisions includes utilizing theignition events that are picked up by the antenna to install divisionmarks on the waveform and the routine to identify and install divisionsin those locations along the waveform where a division is missingbecause an ignition event was not detected by the antenna.

In one aspect, the instrumentation for detecting at least some of theignition events includes a direct connection to the means for generatingan ignition event for one of the cylinders.

In one aspect, the ignition events from the engine are not all picked upby any instrumentation. The one or more software routines includes aroutine to identify and install all the waveform divisions on thepressure waveform. The step of dividing the waveform into divisionsincludes the step of utilizing the routine to identify and install allthe waveform divisions along the waveform.

In one aspect, the one or more software routines includes a routine todetermine if the means for measuring the cylinder pressure pulses isproperly positioned and properly functioning so that the means formeasuring detects all the pressure pulses from each of the plurality ofcylinders. The method also can include utilizing the routine todetermine if the means for measuring the cylinder pressure pulses isdetecting all the pressure pulses.

In one aspect, the one or more software routines includes a routine thatsuspends testing if the means for measuring the cylinder pressure pulsesis not picking up the pressure pulses.

In one aspect, the instrumentation includes means for generating analert signal and, in addition to suspending testing, the one or moresoftware routines includes a routine that activates the means forgenerating an alert signal.

In one aspect, the instrumentation includes means for acquiring vehicleidentification number (VIN) data associated with the engine beingtested. The one or more software routines includes a routine foranalyzing the VIN data to determine a year, make, and model of theengine being tested. The method also can include acquiring the VIN datafor the engine being tested and determining the year, make, and model ofthe engine.

In one aspect, the YIN data is in the form of a barcode, the means foracquiring VIN data is a bar code scanner, and the method also caninclude scanning the VIN barcode associated with the engine.

In one aspect, the instrumentation includes a key pad, and the method ofacquiring YIN data includes manually entering the VIN data in memory.

In one aspect, the instrumentation also includes a screen. The one ormore software routines includes a routine for displaying a drop downmenu on the screen which screen permits the selection of year, make,model and engine type.

In one aspect, the memory includes a data base of engines for which acorrection factor is to be used with at least some of the one or moresoftware routines. The method also can include checking the data base todetermine if a correction needs to be applied and, if so, applying thecorrection factor to the at least some of the one or more softwareroutines.

In one aspect, the correction factor is applied before testing.

In one aspect, the one or more software routines includes one or moreroutines for converting cycle-to-cycle variations associated with eachwaveform segment into a number representing an average turbulence in theair induction system of the engine which number also representsassociated carbon buildup. The method also can include converting thecycle-to-cycle variations into a number representing the averagewaveform turbulence in the air induction system of the engine.

In one aspect, the instrumentation includes a carbon buildup scale. Theone or more software routines includes a routine for converting theaverage waveform turbulence to a scale. The method also can includeusing a number representative of the average waveform turbulence and theroutine for converting to scale the carbon buildup in the air inductionsystem of the engine on the carbon build-up scale.

In one aspect, the instrumentation includes a screen on which the carbonbuild-up scale is displayed. The method also can include displaying ascaled carbon buildup on the carbon build-up scale.

In one aspect, displaying the scaled carbon buildup on the carbonbuildup scale also includes displaying alert indicators selected from agroup including one that advises that the air induction system should becleaned and another that advises that the air induction system does nothave to be cleaned.

In one aspect, the one or more software routines includes a plurality ofroutines for converting cycle-to-cycle pressure variations associatedwith each waveform division into a like plurality of numbers eachrepresenting an average waveform turbulence in the air induction systemof the engine. The method also can include converting the cycle-to-cyclevariations into a plurality of numbers each representing an averagewaveform turbulence in the air induction system of such engine, andselecting a greatest one of the plurality of numbers as most accuratelyrepresenting the average waveform turbulence in the air induction systemof such engine and the carbon build up in the air induction system.

In one aspect, the method also can include analyzing the individualwaveform divisions for pressure variations that indicate an enginemisfire.

In one aspect, the method also can include displaying a visual indicatorthat the engine being tested has the engine misfire.

In one aspect, the instrumentation includes means for generating analert signal. The one or more software routines can include a routinefor activating the alert signal when a misfire is detected. The methodalso can include activating the means for generating the alert signalwhen a misfire is detected.

In one aspect, the method also can include inserting the means formeasuring the cylinder pressure pulses into the exhaust system, wherethe waveform is an exhaust pressure waveform.

In one aspect, the means for measuring the pressure pulses is a venturi,and the method also includes inserting the venturi into the exhaustsystem and measuring the cylinder pressure pulses from the venturi.

In one aspect, the method also includes inserting the means formeasuring the cylinder pressure pulses into the air induction system,where the waveform is an intake pressure waveform.

In one aspect, the method also includes determining the carbon buildupin the air induction system of the engine from the cycle to cyclepressure variations, chemically cleaning the air induction system, andrepeating the steps of measuring the pressure pulses, generating awaveform from the measured pressure pulses, dividing the waveform of there-measured pressure pulses in to waveform cycles and cycle segments,marking each of the waveform segments, comparing each individualwaveform segment, and determining from the cycle to cycle pressurevariations the carbon buildup in the air induction system aftercleaning.

In an embodiment, an induction cleaning analyzing system includes apressure sensor, an ignition event detector, and a control module. Thepressure sensor is configured to measure airflow pressures flowing in acommon airflow pathway of a vehicle into which at least one of exhaustsfrom plural cylinders in an engine flow or intake air is drawn by thecylinders. The ignition event detector is configured to determineignition events of the respective cylinders. The control module isconfigured to obtain pressure waveforms representative of the airflowpressures in the common airflow pathway as measured by the pressuresensor and to divide the pressure waveforms into waveform segments. Thecontrol module also is configured to associate different subsets of thewaveform segments with different ones of the cylinders using theignition events determined by the ignition event detector. The controlmodule also is configured to identify cyclic variations in the airflowpressures flowing in the common airflow pathway and caused by at leastone of the cylinders by examining the waveform segments associated withthe at least one of the cylinders.

In one aspect, the control module is configured to determine a magnitudeof carbon build up in one or more of the cylinders by examining thecyclic variations in the airflow pressures caused by the one or more ofthe cylinders.

In one aspect, the control module is configured to quantify themagnitude of the carbon build up based on one or more comparisonsbetween the waveform segments in the subset of waveform segments thatare associated with the one or more of the cylinders.

In one aspect, the pressure sensor is configured to be at leastpartially inserted into a tail pipe of a vehicle that includes theengine in order to measure the airflow pressures.

In one aspect, the pressure sensor is configured to be at leastpartially inserted into an intake manifold of the engine in order tomeasure the airflow pressures.

In one aspect, the ignition event detector includes an antennaconfigured to wirelessly detect at least one of ignition signalstransmitted to one or more spark plugs or ignition coils of the engineor electromagnetic interference caused by one or more spark plugs in theengine firing.

In one aspect, the ignition events represent combustion cycles ofdifferent ones of the cylinders. The control module can be configured toassociate the waveform segments that occur between the ignition eventswith the different ones of the cylinders.

In one aspect, the pressure sensor is configured to be disposed outsideof the cylinders.

In an embodiment, a method (e.g., for analyzing carbon build up in anengine) includes measuring airflow pressures flowing in a common airflowpathway of a vehicle into which at least one of exhausts from pluralcylinders in an engine flow or intake air is drawn by the cylindersusing a pressure sensor that is at least partially disposed in thecommon airflow pathway, determining when ignition events of therespective cylinders occur, dividing pressure waveforms representativeof the airflow pressures into waveform segments, associating differentsubsets of the waveform segments with different ones of the cylindersusing the ignition events determined by the ignition event detector, andidentifying cyclic variations in the airflow pressures flowing in thecommon airflow pathway and caused by at least one of the cylinders byexamining the waveform segments associated with the at least one of thecylinders.

In one aspect, the method also includes determining a magnitude ofcarbon build up in one or more of the cylinders by examining the cyclicvariations in the airflow pressures caused by the one or more of thecylinders.

In one aspect, the method also includes quantifying the magnitude of thecarbon build up based on one or more comparisons between the waveformsegments in the subset of waveform segments that are associated with theone or more of the cylinders.

In one aspect, the method also includes at least partially inserting thepressure sensor into at least one of a tail pipe of a vehicle thatincludes the engine or an intake manifold of the engine in order tomeasure the airflow pressures.

In one aspect, determining when ignition events of the respectivecylinders occur includes wirelessly detecting at least one of ignitionsignals transmitted to one or more spark plugs or ignition coils of theengine or electromagnetic interference caused by one or more spark plugsin the engine firing.

In one aspect, the ignition events represent combustion cycles ofdifferent ones of the cylinders, and associating different subsets ofthe waveform segments with different ones of the cylinders includesassociating the waveform segments that occur between the ignition eventswith the different ones of the cylinders.

In an embodiment, a system (e.g., for analyzing airflow throughcylinders of an engine) includes a pressure sensor, an ignition eventdetector, and a control module. The pressure sensor is configured tomeasure at least one of intake air pressures or exhaust pressures ofplural cylinders flowing through a common air passageway associated withan engine. The ignition event detector is configured to sense ignitionsignals representative of combustion cycles of the cylinders. Thecontrol module is configured to separate the at least one of intake airpressures or exhaust pressures into waveform segments and to associatedifferent subsets of the waveform segments with different ones of thecylinders. The control module is configured to identify variations inthe at least one of intake air pressures or exhaust pressures caused byat least one of the cylinders by identifying cyclic variations in thewaveform segments in the subset of the waveform segments that areassociated with the at least one of the cylinders.

In one aspect, the control module is configured to quantify an amount ofcarbon build up in the engine using the cyclic variations in thewaveform segments in the subset of the waveform segments associated withthe at least one of the cylinders.

In one aspect, the ignition event detector includes an antennaconfigured to wirelessly detect the ignition signals transmitted to oneor more spark plugs or ignition coils of the engine or electromagneticinterference caused by one or more spark plugs in the engine firing.

In one aspect, the control module is configured to associate thewaveform segments that occur during different ones of the combustioncycles with different ones of the cylinders.

In one aspect, the pressure sensor is configured to be at least one ofinserted into a tailpipe of a vehicle that includes the engine or anintake manifold of the engine to sense the at least one of intake airpressures or exhaust pressures.

In one aspect, the control module is configured to recommend cleaningthe engine based on the cyclic variations in the waveform segmentsassociated with the at least one of the cylinders.

Through the examples, it is clear that at least one aspect of theinventive subject matter described herein can determine or quantify thecarbon compound build up contained within the internal combustionengine, and determine a representative scale for the carbon build up. Itis also clear that the system can determine if the internal combustionengine is misfiring. This data can be conveyed to the service personalthrough visual or audible alerts. In one aspect, the system can savedata acquired before cleaning the engine so that this data can becompared to similar types of data acquired after cleaning the engine.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-describedembodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination witheach other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the inventivesubject matter without departing from its scope. While the dimensionsand types of materials described herein are intended to define theparameters of the inventive subject matter, they are by no meanslimiting and are exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription. The scope of the inventive subject matter should,therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, alongwith the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Inthe appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used asthe plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and“wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,”“second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are notintended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, thelimitations of the following claims are not written inmeans-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted basedon 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claimlimitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statementof function void of further structure.

This written description uses examples to disclose several embodimentsof the inventive subject matter and also to enable one of ordinary skillin the art to practice the embodiments of inventive subject matter,including making and using any devices or systems and performing anyincorporated methods. The patentable scope of the inventive subjectmatter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples thatoccur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples areintended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structuralelements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, orif they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantialdifferences from the literal languages of the claims.

The foregoing description of certain embodiments of the presentinventive subject matter will be better understood when read inconjunction with the appended drawings. To the extent that the figuresillustrate diagrams of the functional blocks of various embodiments, thefunctional blocks are not necessarily indicative of the division betweenhardware circuitry. Thus, for example, one or more of the functionalblocks (for example, processors or memories) may be implemented in asingle piece of hardware (for example, a general purpose signalprocessor, microcontroller, random access memory, hard disk, and thelike). Similarly, the programs may be stand-alone programs, may beincorporated as subroutines in an operating system, may be functions inan installed software package, and the like. The various embodiments arenot limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in thedrawings.

As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceededwith the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding pluralof said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated.Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present inventivesubject matter are not intended to be interpreted as excluding theexistence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recitedfeatures. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary,embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or aplurality of elements having a particular property may includeadditional such elements not having that property.

What is claimed is:
 1. An induction cleaning analyzing systemcomprising: a pressure sensor configured to measure airflow pressuresflowing in a common airflow pathway of a vehicle into which at least oneof exhausts from plural cylinders in an engine flow or intake air isdrawn by the cylinders; an ignition event detector configured todetermine ignition events of the respective cylinders; and one or moremicroprocessors configured to obtain pressure waveforms representativeof the airflow pressures in the common airflow pathway as measured bythe pressure sensor and to divide the pressure waveforms into waveformsegments, the one or more microprocessors also configured to associatedifferent subsets of the waveform segments with different ones of thecylinders using the ignition events determined by the ignition eventdetector, wherein the one or more microprocessors also is configured toidentify cyclic variations in the airflow pressures flowing in thecommon airflow pathway and caused by at least one of the cylinders byexamining the waveform segments associated with the at least one of thecylinders.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or moremicroprocessors are configured to determine a magnitude of carbon buildup in one or more of the cylinders by examining the cyclic variations inthe airflow pressures caused by the one or more of the cylinders.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the one or more microprocessors areconfigured to quantify the magnitude of the carbon build up based on oneor more comparisons between the waveform segments in the subset ofwaveform segments that are associated with the one or more of thecylinders.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor isconfigured to be at least partially inserted into a tail pipe of avehicle that includes the engine in order to measure the airflowpressures.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor isconfigured to be at least partially inserted into an intake manifold ofthe engine in order to measure the airflow pressures.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the ignition event detector includes an antennaconfigured to wirelessly detect at least one of ignition signalstransmitted to one or more spark plugs or ignition coils of the engineor electromagnetic interference caused by one or more spark plugs in theengine firing.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the ignition eventsrepresent combustion cycles of different ones of the cylinders, and theone or more microprocessors are configured to associate the waveformsegments that occur between the ignition events with the different onesof the cylinders.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensoris configured to be disposed outside of the cylinders.
 9. A systemcomprising: a pressure sensor configured to measure at least one ofintake air pressures or exhaust pressures of plural cylinders flowingthrough a common air passageway associated with an engine; an ignitionevent detector configured to sense ignition signals representative ofcombustion cycles of the cylinders; and one or more microprocessorsconfigured to separate the at least one of intake air pressures orexhaust pressures into waveform segments and to associate differentsubsets of the waveform segments with different ones of the cylinders,and wherein the one or more microprocessors are configured to identifyvariations in the at least one of intake air pressures or exhaustpressures caused by at least one of the cylinders by identifying cyclicvariations in the waveform segments in the subset of the waveformsegments that are associated with the at least one of the cylinders. 10.The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more microprocessors areconfigured to quantify an amount of carbon build up in the engine usingthe cyclic variations in the waveform segments in the subset of thewaveform segments associated with the at least one of the cylinders. 11.The system of claim 9, wherein the ignition event detector includes anantenna configured to wirelessly detect the ignition signals transmittedto one or more spark plugs or ignition coils of the engine orelectromagnetic interference caused by one or more spark plugs in theengine firing.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or moremicroprocessors are configured to associate the waveform segments thatoccur during different ones of the combustion cycles with different onesof the cylinders.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein the pressure sensoris configured to be at least one of inserted into a tailpipe of avehicle that includes the engine or an intake manifold of the engine tosense the at least one of intake air pressures or exhaust pressures. 14.The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more microprocessors areconfigured to recommend cleaning the engine based on the cyclicvariations in the waveform segments associated with the at least one ofthe cylinders.
 15. A method of identifying cyclic variations incombustion efficiency in cylinders of an internal combustion engine withaid of instrumentation, the engine including an air induction system,the cylinders, means for generating an ignition event for each of thecylinders, and an exhaust system, the instrumentation including one ormore microprocessors programmed with one or more software routines,memory, and means for measuring cylinder pressure pulses; the methodincluding: running the engine through a number of combustion cycles;measuring the pressure pulses with the means for measuring cylinderpressure pulses; generating a waveform from the measured cylinderpressure pulses; dividing the waveform of the measured cylinder pressurepulses into waveform cycles and cycle segments, wherein each waveformcycle represents a complete combustion cycle of the engine, wherein eachcycle segment represents a combustion cycle of a separate cylinder ofthe engine, and wherein a total number of the cycle segments equals atotal number of the cylinders; marking, each of the waveform segmentsfrom a cycle of the engine with a separate and distinct identifier, andrepeating this identifier sequence for a number of successive cycles;and comparing each individual waveform segment during a particular cyclewith the waveform segment having the same identifier for a number ofsuccessive cycles to identify cycle to cycle variations for eachwaveform segment.
 16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein theinstrumentation further includes means for detecting at least some ofthe ignition events, and wherein dividing the waveform into waveformcycles and waveform segments includes utilizing the at least some of theignition events that are detected.
 17. The method as set forth in claim16, wherein the means for detecting at least some of the ignitionsignals includes an antenna, and further including placing the antennarelative to the engine so that the antenna can detect at least some ofthe ignition events, and wherein the one or more software routinesincludes a routine to determine if the antenna is properly positionedrelative to the engine such that the antenna is detecting at least someof the ignition signals, and further comprising determining if theantenna is properly positioned before proceeding to identify cyclicpressure variations in the combustion efficiency.
 18. The method as setforth in claim 17, wherein, when the antenna does not pick up all of theignition events from the engine, the one or more software routinesincludes a routine to identify and install waveform divisions on thepressure waveform that are not based on an ignition event picked up bythe antenna, and wherein dividing the waveform into divisions includesutilizing the ignition events that are picked up by the antenna toinstall division marks on the waveform and the routine to identify andinstall divisions in those locations along the waveform where a divisionis missing because an ignition event was not detected by the antenna.19. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the instrumentation fordetecting at least some of the ignition events includes a directconnection to the means for generating an ignition event for one of thecylinders.
 20. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the one ormore software routines includes a routine to determine if the means formeasuring the cylinder pressure pulses is properly positioned andproperly functioning so that the means for measuring detects all thepressure pulses from each of the plurality of cylinders, and furthercomprising utilizing the routine to determine if the means for measuringthe cylinder pressure pulses is detecting all the pressure pulses.